ACTUATOR SYSTEMS FOR ORAL-BASED APPLIANCES

• US 20080019542A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Abolfathi, Amir, Menzel, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0093 Features of implants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0098 Immediate loaded implants
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of the at least one tooth;

a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth; and

a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the housing whereby movement of the mass element generates a force transmittable through the surface of the at least one tooth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least two arm members configured to be placed against opposite sides of the at least one tooth in a secure manner and a span member joining the two arm members.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the housing is removably securable to the at least one tooth.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least a first arm member configured to be placed against a first side of the at least one tooth and at least a second arm member which extends from a span member which joins the first and second arm members, whereby actuation of the transducer moves the second arm member with the mass element attached thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a reflective layer disposed between the second arm member and the transducer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an oral appliance having a shape which conforms to the at least one tooth.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and which is in communication with the transducer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly is encapsulated within the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a power supply in electrical communication with transducer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a processor in electrical communication with the transducer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a microphone for receiving auditory signals and which is in electrical communication with the processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a receiver in wireless communication with an externally located transmitter assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is disposed along an outer surface of the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is disposed along an inner surface of the housing against the surface of the at least one tooth.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a coupling layer disposed between the transducer and the surface of the at least one tooth.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a second surface of the at least one tooth.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having the mass element freely movable relative to the transducer.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having the mass element tethered with respect to the transducer.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in an elongate direction relative to the length of the transducer.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a unimorph or bimorph composite transducer configured to vibrate in a bending mode.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a symmetrically configured composite transducer.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is coupled to the mass at a first end of the transducer and wherein the transducer is further coupled to the housing at a second end of the transducer.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is coupled to the mass at a center of the transducer and wherein the transducer is further coupled to the housing around a circumference of the transducer.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a flexible cap disposed along a first surface of the transducer such that the mass element is coupled to the transducer via the flexible cap whereby vibration of the transducer induces the mass element to vibrate in a direction transverse to a direction of the vibration of the transducer.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one coil positioned adjacent to the transducer whereby induction of a current through the coil induces vibration in the transducer.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force transmitted through the surface of the at least one tooth is constant over a frequency range of interest.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor for processing auditory signals, wherein the processor is in communication with the transducer.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the processor is in electrical communication with the transducer.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the processor is in wireless communication with the transducer.

38. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

positioning a housing onto at least one tooth, whereby the housing has a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of the tooth;

receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by a user;

actuating a transducer disposed within or upon the housing such that a mass element coupled to the transducer is vibrated relative to the housing, wherein the transducer vibrates according to the electronic signal; and

transmitting vibrations to at least one surface of the tooth.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein positioning comprises maintaining contact between the at least one surface of the tooth such that the transducer remains in vibratory communication.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein receiving an electronic signal further comprising receiving the auditory signal via a microphone.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein positioning comprises positioning an interface layer between the transducer and the surface of the tooth through which vibratory communication is maintained.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein positioning comprises contacting the transducer against a lingual or buccal surface of the tooth.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein positioning comprises contacting the transducer against a posterior surface of the tooth.

44. The method of claim 38 wherein receiving an electronic signal further comprises transmitting the electronic signal to the actuator.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the electronic signal to the actuator.

46. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating an electromagnetic transducer.

47. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating a piezoelectric transducer.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein actuating a piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein actuating a piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in an elongate direction relative to the length of the transducer.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein actuating a piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

51. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating a unimorph or bimorph composite transducer to vibrate in a bending mode.

52. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating a symmetrically configured composite transducer.

53. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating the mass element coupled at a first end of the transducer with the transducer coupled to the housing at a second end of the transducer.

54. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating the mass element coupled at a center of the transducer with the transducer coupled to the housing around a circumference of the transducer.

55. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating a flexible cap disposed along a first surface of the transducer such that the mass element is coupled to the transducer via the flexible cap whereby vibration of the transducer induces the mass element to vibrate in a direction transverse to a direction of the vibration of the transducer.

56. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises inducing a current through at least one coil positioned adjacent to the transducer such that the transducer is vibrated.

57. The method of claim 38 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating at least one additional transducer to vibrate against at least a second surface of the tooth.

58. The method of claim 38 wherein transmitting vibrations comprises transmitting a constant force through the surface of the at least one tooth over a frequency range of interest.

59. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

a housing configured to be secured along opposite surfaces of at least one tooth via first and second arm members, wherein the arm members are securely pressed against their respective surfaces; and

a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth such that a force generated by the transducer is transmittable through the at least one tooth.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the first and second arm members are biased towards one another such that the arm members are securely pressed against their respective surfaces.

61. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the first and second arm members are connected via at least one span member.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.

63. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

64. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the first and second arm members are configured to be placed respectively against lingual and buccal surfaces of the at least one tooth.

65. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the housing is removably securable to the at least one tooth.

66. The apparatus of claim 59 further comprising an impedance matching layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.

67. The apparatus of claim 59 further comprising a reflective layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.

68. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer is disposed along an outer surface of the housing.

69. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer is disposed along an inner surface of the housing against the at least one tooth.

70. The apparatus of claim 59 further comprising at least one additional transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth.

71. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

72. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

73. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

74. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having a mass element freely movable relative to the transducer.

75. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having a mass element tethered with respect to the transducer.

76. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

77. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in an elongate direction relative to a length of the transducer.

78. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

79. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

securing a housing along opposite surfaces of at least one tooth via first and second arm members, wherein the arm members are securely pressed against respective opposing surfaces of the at least one tooth;

actuating a transducer disposed within or upon the housing such that the transducer is vibrated relative to the housing; and

transmitting vibrations to at least one surface of the tooth.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein securing comprises positioning the first arm member along a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

81. The method of claim 80 further comprising positioning the second arm member along a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

82. The method of claim 79 wherein securing comprises biasing the first and second arm members towards one another such that the transducer is secured relative to the at least one tooth.

83. The method of claim 79 further comprising receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by a user prior to actuating a transducer.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein actuating a transducer comprises vibrating the transducer according to the electronic signal.

85. The method of claim 79 wherein actuating comprises actuating an electromagnetic transducer.

86. The method of claim 79 wherein actuating comprises actuating a piezoelectric transducer.

87. The method of claim 79 wherein transmitting comprises vibrating through an interface layer disposed between the transducer and the surfaces of the at least one tooth such that vibratory communication is maintained.